Green Loop led the LEED strategy, energy modeling, and commissioning behind Viva Envigado, the largest shopping center in Colombia to earn LEED Platinum and the highest-scoring retail project in the system. 

This case study covers Viva Envigado, the largest shopping center in Colombia to earn LEED Platinum and the highest-scoring retail project in the system. The mall reached 83 points under LEED Core and Shell. Retail buildings rarely hit Platinum. This one did. 

Take a look at the project overview

Viva Envigado opened in 2018 in Envigado, just south of Medellín. It holds about 137,000 m² of commercial area inside 260,000 m² of built space, which makes it the largest mall in the country. Grupo Éxito developed it under its Viva Sostenible strategy, which pushes every new Viva center toward LEED certification. Scale set the tone for every decision that followed. 

The building pursued LEED 2009 Core and Shell. Core and Shell covers the base building, structure, envelope, and shared systems, not tenant fit-out. The team earned Platinum with 83 points, past the 80 needed for the top tier. Size raised the difficulty, since larger footprints make the required efficiency standards harder to reach. 

The challenge: achieving Platinum in a complex retail environment

Platinum demands 80 points or more. Shopping centers work against that number. They run long hours, move large crowds, and power escalators, signage, and refrigeration past midnight. Viva Envigado added site problems too. It sits near the Medellín river between two major avenues, which brought high water tables that complicated the foundations and tight logistics between two main roads. 

The location also capped noise, dust, and delivery hours during the build. Construction ran with up to eight tower cranes at once and concrete days near 450 m³. The team had to reach Platinum without inflating cost or schedule on a project already stretched by its scale. Every credit needed a clear payback, so the design leaned on strategies that cut demand at the source. 

This is Green Loop’s strategy

On Viva Envigado, Green Loop ran the LEED consulting, energy modeling, and commissioning: the technical backbone that carries a Core and Shell project of this size to Platinum. On a project this large, the winning move is an integrative process. Architects, engineers, and energy modelers test choices together against one shared model instead of in isolation. 

Passive design carried much of the load. Viva Envigado uses a bioclimatic layout that keeps the first and second floors comfortable without air conditioning, and the food court runs an adiabatic cooling system that refreshes the air without heavy energy use. More than 1,600 solar panels supply close to 20% of common-area power. These moves lowered consumption before any offset entered the math. 

Learn about the key LEED credits pursued

The scorecard drew points from every LEED category, with Energy and Atmosphere doing the heavy lifting. Efficient LED lighting, the adiabatic system, and the solar array cut energy hard. Water efficiency, sustainable sites, and materials added the rest. The team documented each measure with data, since reviewers accept evidence, not intent.

• Energy and Atmosphere: Energy use near 82.5 kWh/m² per year against a 187.8 benchmark, a 56% reduction versus comparable malls.
• Materials and Resources: 21.6% of construction materials were regional or recycled, including recycled debris used in non-structural concrete. 
• Water Efficiency:  Efficient restroom fixtures that save close to 7,900 m³ of water each year. 
• Location and Transportation: A direct connection to the Medellín Metro and more than 130 bicycle spaces. 

On-site generation pushed the score further. The solar array offset a large share of shared-area load, often the credit that separates Gold from Platinum on a retail asset. The combined result reached 83 points, three above the Platinum line.

Results: energy, water, and carbon savings

The numbers hold up in operation. Viva Envigado uses about 56% less energy than comparable malls, near 82.5 against 187.8 kWh/m² per year, which saves close to 5.5 million kWh each year, enough to power more than 8,600 modest homes in Envigado for a year. Those savings compound across decades of trading.

Water performance follows the same pattern. Efficient fixtures save nearly 7,900 m³ a year, enough drinking water for around 43 homes. Lower energy use also means lower operational carbon against a standard code building. For the owner, reduced running cost and a Platinum plaque raise both asset value and tenant demand. 

The model of a technical evaluation checklist

Use this checklist to judge whether a retail project can realistically reach Platinum. It mirrors the evidence LEED reviewers expect before they confirm the rating.

• Energy modeling and metering show a deep, verified cut against the baseline
• On-site renewable generation sized to offset shared-area loads
• Passive strategies reduce demand before any offset
• Efficient fixtures and submetering lower potable water use
• Regional and recycled materials tracked with documentation
• Transit access and bicycle infrastructure confirmed on site
• Commissioning completed and documented before handover

Missing documentation is the most common reason a strong project lands at Gold instead of Platinum. Treating evidence collection as part of the build, not an afterthought, is what protects the target through review.

Want similar results for your project?

Platinum on a large retail asset is rare, but repeatable with the right team. Green Loop brought the energy modeling, passive design, and commissioning that carried Viva Envigado past the Platinum line, and the same method applies to offices, hospitality, logistics, and mixed-use work across the region. As a LEED Proven Provider and certified B Corp with more than 15 years in Latin America, the team turns green targets into verified certifications.

Ready to start? Talk to our LEED team about your certification path, or explore the full project portfolio to see the results firsthand.